THE PRAYERS

Table Graces

For health and strength and daily food we praise Your name, 0 Lord. Amen. (May be sung in a round)

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let this food to us be blest. Amen.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above you heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. (May be sung)

For food, for raiment  
For life, for opportunity
For friendship and fellowship
We thank thee, 0 Lord. Amen. 
(Reprinted with permission of Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico)

Before a Troop or Patrol Meeting

Dear heavenly Father, as we begin this meeting, we know that You are here with us. Make our hearts and minds ready to plan and do those things that will be pleasing to You and serve our troop (patrol), our community and the holy Christian Church. Where we fail, forgive us for the sake of Jesus our Savior and help us start again in the way you would have us go. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Before Leaving on a Campout

As we prepare to leave on our campout, we ask You to be with us in our journey, Jesus. As you traveled with your disciples, so travel with us. Send Your heavenly angels to watch over us on the road and at our campsite. Keep us safe from all harm. Give us patience with one another. Grant us the will and the skill to work together as a troop (patrol). Help us during this campout to grow closer to one another and closer to You as our Friend and Savior. Equip us to be Your servants in this our Father's world. Bring us safely home to our family and friends. We pray in Your name. Amen.

Upon Returning from a Campout

Lord, we made it! Thank you. We're back home. We are tired, but it was fun. There were a few surprises and some trying moments but through it all we pray, that we have grown as Christians and that, as we reflect on these experiences, we will continue to grow.

Where we tried each other's patience, where we may have hurt one another, forgive us for Jesus' sake, even as we have forgiven those who may have sinned against us.

Send us back to our family, our school, our church and our community with Your blessing. Make us Your gifts to those with whom we live.

Thank you for being with us, protecting us and blessing us on our camping experience. Now go with us to our home and bless all we do in your name. Amen.

Luther's Morning Prayer

In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say:

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then say this prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day a] so from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go joyfully to your day's activities.

Luther's Evening Prayer

In the evening when you go to bed, make the sign of the holy cross and say:

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then say this prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.

A Scout Prayer: 
The prayer is based on the Scout Law. Scouts and scouters are asked to respond with the words, "hear our prayer" after the words, "Lord, in Your mercy."

Leader: Let us pray for scouts, for scouters and for all people.
Leader:  Because we have failed in the trust others have placed in us, we pray for forgiveness and for renewal to be trustworthy; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For strength to be loyal to our calling in Baptism as His disciples in the world; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For forgiveness when we saw the need to help and passed that need by, when we failed to ask if we could be helpful to a friend or a stranger; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For the spirit to be friendly to all people and even to those who are unfriendly to us; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer
Leader: For the gift of courtesy to all people but especially to the elderly, the handicapped and little children; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer
Leader: For a heart that rejoices in being kind to people, to animals and to the earth on which we live; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For the will to discipline ourselves to be obedient to the will of our God, and not to our selfish desires; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For a cheerful spirit to see us through disappointing events in our lives, For a faith that believes God will bring some good even from events that cause us pain and sadness; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For an appreciation that all that we have is the gift of our gracious God, For a mind and a heart that will be thrifty in managing the resources God has entrusted to our care; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For the courage not to be afraid of doing what is right and to be brave in working for justice; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For the will to work to keep clean our minds, our hearts and our land; Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: For the gift of reverence for God who values all that He has created, For reverence for people, for animal life, for the earth and all its resources - all precious in God's sight;
Leader: Lord, in Your mercy,
Scouts: hear our prayer.
Leader: Into your hands, 0 Lord, we commend all the people and all the needs we bring before You in our prayers, trusting in Your mercy; through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Scouts: Amen.

 A Trail Responsive Prayer

Leader: For silver on the sage, for starlit skies above, 
For aspen covered hills, 
for the country that I love,  
All: We thank You, 0 Lord.
Leader: For wind in whispering pines, 
for eagles soaring high, 
For purple mountains rising against an azure sky,  
All: We thank You, 0 Lord.  
Leader: For friends who walk with me along the awesome trail, 
For those who share their care for me, especially when I fail,  
All: We thank You, 0 Lord.
Jesus: 0 Jesus, who walked the trail with the  
Emmaus two, Join us on our mountain  
trek the whole day through.  
All: 0 Lord, abide with us.  
Leader: As the sun rises over the tall lonesome  
pine, may Your care and love for us in all  
our actions shine.  
All: 0 Lord, walk with us along the trail.  
Bless our walk together. Amen.

The Lord's Payer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

or

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

The Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy (christian or catholic) church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.